The Skinny on Marijuana

A new study says marijuana use results in "lower prevalence rates of obesity and diabetes." So much for the theory that the munchies make people fat.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, the University of Nebraska and Beth Israel Deaconess Center tested 4,600 adults for blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and waist size.

They concluded: "Epidemiologic studies have found lower prevalence rates of obesity and diabetes mellitus in marijuana users compared with people who have never used marijuana, suggesting a relationship between cannabinoids and peripheral metabolic processes… We found significant associations between marijuana use and smaller waist circumferences… We found that marijuana use was associated with lower levels of fasting insulin and HOMA-IR, and smaller waist circumference."

Dr. Stuart Weiss of NYU School of Medicine explains: "There is some compound that is involved in with marijuana smoke that causes an improvement in metabolism."